The HiRISE high resolution camera took the amazing photograph at 85 degrees north on the planet. The team say the occurrence of avalanches is revealed by the accompanying clouds of fine material that continue to settle out of the air.

The avalanches are a result of carbon-dioxide frost that clings to the slopes in the darkness of winter, which then loosens up and falls when hit by sunlight.

These events happen mostly in the middle of spring, roughly equivalent to April to early May on Earth. And it seems this is a regular spring process at Mars’ north pole that may be expected every year.